No-voltage release for electrical switches



Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,085

P. K. VAN DER STERR NO VOLTAGE RELEASE FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Filed July 12, 1915 Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETRUS KLAAS VAN DER STERR, OF FRANKFORTONTHE-MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FIRlVI VOIGT & HAEFFNER ACTIEN GESELLSCHAF'I, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE- MAIN, GERMANY.

NO-VOLTAGE RELEASE FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

Application filed July 12, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Pn'rnUs KLAAs vex nan S'rnnu, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, and a resident of Frankforton-the-Main, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in No- Voltage Releases for Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in no-Voltage releases for electrical switches, and more particularly in no-voltage releases in which the releasing coil is not automatically disconnected from the circuit by the operation of the release, as is the case in high voltage apparatus in which the coils of several apparatus are connected to a voltage transformer. In such apparatus the armature of the releasing electromagnet remains in its inoperative position, when the circuit is reestablished and the switch remains in its open position. In such cases the magnetic circuit of the releasing electromagnet is open and it has an increased consumption of energy, so that for example a voltage transformer is not able any more to supply the necessary energy for some length of time.

The object of the improvements is to pro vide an apparatus, in which this objection is avoided. lVith this object in view my invention consists in providing means whereby the armature of the releasing electromagnet, which is dropped when the circuit fails, is directly returned into its normal position.

In order that my invention be more clearly understood an eXample embodying the same has been shown in the accompanying draw-- ing, in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawing Fig. 1, is a diagrammatical View showing the apparatus in the operative position with the armature of the releasing electromagnet engaging the electromagnet,

Fig. 2, is a similar view of the apparatus showing the armature in its dropped position, which position is assumed for a moment only,

Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the armature after being lifted again into engagement with the electromagnet, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the switch in its open position.

Serial No. 778,761;

Inthe example illustrated in the drawing the switch 2? is provided with an operating lever a, which is adapted to actuate the lifting and locking apparatus of a no-voltage releasing electromagnet e by means of a connecting linkage b, and an abutment c and a bifurcated member (1, both formed on a rod 7) of said linkage. The armature f of the electromagnet e is adapted to be locked, in the open position of the switch shown in Fig. 4, by a pawl 9 an arm h of which can be lifted by the abutment 0 formed on the rod 2; against the action of a spring z' normally tending to hold the said pawl g in looking engagement with the armature f. At its lower end the rod 6 is formed with a bifurcated portion (Z adapted to engage a lifting bar k. A spring Z acts to force the said lifting bar upwards, but the said lifting bar is normally locked by a pawl m acted upon by a spring n. The pawl m is provided with a nose 0, and the lifting bar or returning member In is provided with a nose p. A releasing lock 9 is arranged between the operating lever a and the pivot s of the switch t. This switch t closes the circuit at a by means of a brush. The releasing lock 9 engages by means of a nose '0 the part w, being in connection with the pivot of the switch t. A releasing pawl m is tripped by the lifting bar is as the latter returns the armature to contact with the magnet after the voltage has failed.

The operation of the apparatus is as fo1- lows: In Fig. l I have shown the switch I in its closed position, and the armature f in engagement with the pole of the electromagnet c. The locking pawl g is in non-locking position, because the rod 6 has been lifted into its elevated position and has lifted the arm it of the pawl g by means of the abutment c. The lifting bar or return ing member 0 is not acted upon by the bifurcated part d of the rod 1), but it is locked by the pawl m. If the circuit loses its voltage, the electromagnet e releases the armature f, so that the latter drops, strikes on the nose 0, and rocks the pawl m out of locking engagement with the bar In against the action of the spring a, so that the liftin bar or returning member 70 is released. Now the elements of the apparatus have for a moment the position shown in Fig. 2. As the lifting bar is is not held any more by the pawl m, and the bifurcated portion (Z of the rod Z) does not force the same downwards, it is lifted by its spring Z so as to lift the armature into the position shown in Fig. 3. At the same time the lifting bar or returning member 7a presses on the releasing pawl 5c, whereby the part to is released by the nose a; so that the switch can turn about its pivot s and open the circuit at u. If now the lever a is turned upwards the nose c reengages the part to. At the same time the rod Z) is shifted downwards, so as to force the bar it downwards byit-s bifurcated portion (Z, until the said bar is locked by the pawl m. Simultaneously the spring 2' rocks the locking pawl 9 into position for engagement with the armature and locks it in its elevated position, the arm it of the said pawl 9 being disengaged by the abutment 0. Now the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4:. If the switch lever a is again shifted into position to close the switch, the parts are returned into the operative position shown in Fig. 1.

lVhile in describing the invention reference has been made to a particular embodiment thereof which in my opinion serves the purpose best. I wish it to be understood, that my invention is not limited to the general arrangement and the construction of the elements shown in the drawing, and that various changes may be made without departing from the gist of my invention. In the example shown in the drawing an important feature consists in the fact, that the armature throws its lifting member intooperative position when it drops downwards, and that in the open position of the switch the armature is locked by a locking pawl.

In switches which are provided with the arrangement of the armature described herein, the switch is preferably not opened by the armature of the electromagnet, but by the lifting mechanism, because the latter is adapted to exert a. considerably higher force, than the armature of the no-voltage releasing electromagnet, which is comparatively small.

I claim herein as my invention:

1. The combination with a switch adapted to open and close an electric circuit, of an electromagnet and its armature, the coil of said electromagnet being connected across the voltage of the said circuit, locking means for said armature adapted to be thrown into non-locking position by the said switch being thrown into closed position, a normally locked member adapted to return the said armature into engagement with its electromagnet after being retracted therefrom, locking means for said returning member adapted to hold the returning memher in position ready for action and to be throwninto non-locking position by the armature being retracted from its electromagnet, means connected with said switch and adapted when the switch is being thrown into open position to shift said returning member into position ready. for action, and means operative when the armature is being returned to the electromagnet to shift the switch into open position.

2. The combination with a switch adapted to open and close an electric citcuit, of an electromagnet and its armature, the coil of said electromagnet being connected across the voltage of the said circuit, locking means for said armature adapted to be thrown into nonlocking position by the said switch being thrown into closed position, a normally locked member adapted to return the said. armature into engagement with its electromagnet after being retracted therefrom, locking means for said returning member adapted to hold the returning member in position ready for action and to be thrown into non-locking position by the armature being retracted from its electromagnet, means connected with said switch and adapted when the switch is being thrown into open position to shift said returning member into position ready for action, and means operative when the armature is being returned to the electromagnet and actuated by said returning member to shift the switch into open position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETRUS liLr AS VAN nnn STERR. l'Vitnesses JEAN GRUND, ERWIN Drovnn. 

